With an aspiration to become an Asian Leader in industrial growth, Gujarat government announced on Monday much-awaited new industrial policy ahead of Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit-09.
The policy aims at attracting quality investments, increasing employment opportunities in the state, develpoing special investment regions, encouraging public private partnership model, setting up of mega projects and core infrstructure projects, said minister of state for industry Saurabh Patel, who released the policy in Ahmedabad.
The first objective of the policy is to attract investments in the areas of SIRs, PPP projects, mega projects, innovative projects, infrastructure projects, port-related projects and logistics and services related enterprises.
Principal secretary of industries Maheshwar Sahu, who made a power point presentation of the policy, said that Gujarat has decided to set up two SIRs one near Dahej and second in Dholera on areas stretching up to 45,000 and 54,000 hectares respectively.
Land acquisition for both the projects is underway and the state would enact a SIR Act in the assembly besides a number of investment regions will also be developed in the state, he said.
According to Sahu, the proposed SIRs will be synergized with dedicated frieght corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor to be developed with the Japan government.
On PPP projects, the state would encourage PPP model in port and core infrastructure projects, logistics and services, new industrial estates and training and development of manpower.
The state would also provide viability gap fund, the policy said.
Mega projects with investment above Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) and employment of 2,000 will be encouraged in the sectors of auto components, semiconductor fabrication, nano technology, ship building and repairing, aircraft maintenance, repairing and overhaul, it added.
The state will provide 'merit-based package assistance' to core infrastructure projects involving investment of Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) or above in the sector of metro rail line, logistics parks, railway lines, express ways, fast passenger trains and high speed trains, it says.
Innovative manufacturing projects to be set up for the first time in Gujarat will be treated a 'innovative projects' and will be offered the same benefits as to mega projects.
To facilitate investment in the industrial sector, the state run Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation will develop industrial estates on large scales at suitable locations with infrastructural facilities and last-mile connectivity.
To leverage the potential of long coastline, the state will encourage setting up projects related to ports, ship building and repairing, bunkering facilities, ship recycling and logistics services.
Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board will invite private players for setting up warehousing and storage facilities and logistics covering material loading, unloading, handling and transportation.
The state would provide incentives to small and medium enterprise sector, which is the backbone of the state economy.
SMEs will be extended the interest subsidy, venture capital assistance, quality certifications and skill development while the state will accord top priority to cluster development in SME sector, the policy said.
Moreover, the state will offer tailor made packages for various industries categorised as emerging sectors like IT, nano technology, bio technology and non conventional energy resources, potential sectors like agri business, fisheries and informal sectors and existing sectors like textiles, gems and jwellery, engineering and chemicals and
petrochemicals, it said.
